Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 17.djvu/668

 628 FORTY—SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. III. Ch. 325. 1873. Ifbridge is shall not be of less elevation, in any case, than fifty feet above highbum with ‘f°“H“‘ water mark, as understood at the point of location, to the bottom chord mms mus' of the bridge; nor shell the spans of said bridge be less than two hundred and fifty feet in length, and the piers of said brid§e shall be par— allel with the current of the river; aud the main span siall be over the main channel of the river, and not less than three hundred feet in ifas qgivot length: And provided also, That if any bridge built under this act shall d"“"'b" g°· be constructed as a pivot draw-bridge the same shall be constructed with u draw over the main channel of the river at an accessible and navigable point, with spans of not less than one hundred and sixty feet in length in the clear on each side of the central or pivot pier of the draw; and the next adjoining spans to the dmw shall not be less than two hundred and fifty feet, if the proper location of the draw over the channel will admit spans of this width between it and the shore; and said spans shall not be less than thirty feet above low-water mark, and not less than ten above extreme high-water mark, measuring to the bottom chord of the bridge; and the piers of said bridge shall be parallel with the Draw tobe current of the river: And provided also, That said drew shall be opened °P°¤°d P*'°mPdY- promptly, upon reasonable signal, for the passage of boats, and in H0 case shall unnecessary delay occur in opening the said draw during or after the passage of trains. Bridge to be it Sec:. 3. That any bridge constructed under this act, and according to l¤“`f“l ¤¤'¤°*“*¤ its limitations, shall be 21. lawful structure, and shall be known and recog- °°g£3,2:;°°t8` nized as a post-route, upon which, also, no higher charge shall be made for the transmission over the same of the mails, the troops, and the munitions of war of the United States than the rate per mile paid for their transportation over the railroads or public highways leading to the said bridge. Allragyway Sec. 4. That all railway companies desiring to use the said bridge ¤¤m1¤¤¤i<¢Sf9 shall have and be entitled to equal rights and privileges in the passage haw °q““I"ght" of the same, and in the use of the machinery and fixtures thereoii and of all the approaches thereto under and upon such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of `V8.1', upon hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties in case they shall not agree. Regulations {br Sec. 5. That any bridge authorized to be constructed under this act gifigdgig uw shall be built and located under and subject to such regulations for the gsecurity of navigation of said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object the said company or corporation shall submit to the Secretary of War, for his examination and approval, u Design and design and drawings of the bridge and piers, and a map of the location, '““P· giving, for the space of at least one mile above and one mile below the proposed location, the` topography of the banks of the river, the shore lines at high end low water, the direction and strength of the currents at all stages, and the soundings accurately showing the bed of the stream, the location of any other bridge or bridges, and shall furnish such other information as may be required for a, fnll and satisfactory Bridge now, understanding of the subject; and until the said plan and location of b¢b¤i\t¤¤fiL&¢· the bridge are approved by the Secretary of \Var, the bridge shall not Chmgesin be built; and if any change be made in the plan of construction of said Dian bridge during the progress of the work thereon, or before the completion of said bridge, such change shall be subject to the approval of the Secpmnge of retery of War; and the said structure shall be at all times so kept and vessels- managed as to offer reasonable and proper means for the passage of vessels through or under said structure; and the said structure shall be changed at the cost and expense of the owners thereof, from time to time, as Congress may direct, so as to preserve the free and convenient naviga- Authoritytc tion of said river. And the authority to erect and continue said bridge b° shall be subject to revocation or modification by law whenever the public good shall, in the judgment of Congress, so require without any expense or charge to the United States.